American Policy towards the Dissolution Process of the Ottoman Empire

The United States of America, entered the World War I in April 1917, had played an important role in the victory of Entente Powers. On January 8, 1918, United States President Woodrow Wilson, delivered Congress that named "The Fourteen Points" to be used as the guide for the post-war peace settlements. The future of the defeated Ottoman Empire also had been negotiated in the post-war peace settlements. However, in these negotiations the Entente Powers regarded the Turkish settlement as the solution of the "Eastern Question", in other words the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire which was the important war aim for them. This Entente Powers' policy towards the Ottoman Empire had been pursued by the U.S.A. Thus, in the peace negotiations President Wilson disregarded his "Fourteen Points". In this sense, he permitted the Greek invasion of Izmir and supported the establishment of a "Great Armenia" in Eastern Anatolia in spite of knowing that the majority of the population was the Turks.